It's a tale of triumph shadowed by a pinch of controversy as South Africa's Springboks trampled over Wales with a historic 73-0 win, the heaviest home defeat for the Welsh team. However, it wasn't all cheers and victory laps; the match saw Bok lock Eben Etzebeth seeing red for a supposed eye-gouge on Welsh flanker Alex Mann during a late-game scuffle.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi jumped to his teammate's defense, emphasizing the incident as unintentional.
"I’m sure he didn’t mean to do that on purpose. There’s no way,"
Kolisi stated, reassuring that Etzebeth had apologized to Mann. Despite the red card, Kolisi was keen to spotlight the team's performance rather than the foul play. "It’s been a good day," he remarked, aiming to keep the focus on their monumental win rather than the controversy.
The Springboks closed their year with a flawless performance, marking it with their unbeaten tour finale by putting 11 tries past the Welsh team. This match was not just a game but a demonstration of the depth and evolution of the squad, according to Kolisi. "We’re very happy with what we’ve done," he shared, highlighting the strategic use of over 50 players throughout the season to build team depth while securing wins.
Kolisi also praised the tactical execution against Wales.
"We had a plan and we respected Wales,"
he explained. The strategy was clear—dominate territory and keep the game in the Welsh half, forcing them to tackle more but ensuring every point was hard-fought.
The Bok captain did not shy away from addressing the criticism regarding the Welsh team's inexperience, attributed to club-release restrictions. He argued that such tough matches are crucial for development. "The only way for a team to get better is to play against the best," Kolisi pointed out, confident that the experience would benefit the young Welsh squad in the long run.
Reflecting on past struggles, Kolisi drew parallels with the current Welsh phase, recalling the tough times South Africa faced back in 2015. "People burnt our jerseys. Nobody wanted to watch us. Then Coach Rassie came and made a plan," he recounted, a testament to how resilience and strategic planning can turn the tides for a struggling team.
Ending the year as the world's top-ranked side, the Springboks look forward to continuing their dominance in the upcoming season, having secured 12 wins out of 14 Tests in 2025.
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It's a tale of triumph shadowed by a pinch of controversy as South Africa's Springboks trampled over Wales with a historic 73-0 win, the heaviest home defeat for the Welsh team. However, it wasn't all cheers and victory laps; the match saw Bok lock Eben Etzebeth seeing red for a supposed eye-gouge on Welsh flanker Alex Mann during a late-game scuffle.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi jumped to his teammate's defense, emphasizing the incident as unintentional.
"I’m sure he didn’t mean to do that on purpose. There’s no way,"
Kolisi stated, reassuring that Etzebeth had apologized to Mann. Despite the red card, Kolisi was keen to spotlight the team's performance rather than the foul play. "It’s been a good day," he remarked, aiming to keep the focus on their monumental win rather than the controversy.The Springboks closed their year with a flawless performance, marking it with their unbeaten tour finale by putting 11 tries past the Welsh team. This match was not just a game but a demonstration of the depth and evolution of the squad, according to Kolisi. "We’re very happy with what we’ve done," he shared, highlighting the strategic use of over 50 players throughout the season to build team depth while securing wins.
Kolisi also praised the tactical execution against Wales.
"We had a plan and we respected Wales,"
he explained. The strategy was clear—dominate territory and keep the game in the Welsh half, forcing them to tackle more but ensuring every point was hard-fought.The Bok captain did not shy away from addressing the criticism regarding the Welsh team's inexperience, attributed to club-release restrictions. He argued that such tough matches are crucial for development. "The only way for a team to get better is to play against the best," Kolisi pointed out, confident that the experience would benefit the young Welsh squad in the long run.
Reflecting on past struggles, Kolisi drew parallels with the current Welsh phase, recalling the tough times South Africa faced back in 2015. "People burnt our jerseys. Nobody wanted to watch us. Then Coach Rassie came and made a plan," he recounted, a testament to how resilience and strategic planning can turn the tides for a struggling team.
Ending the year as the world's top-ranked side, the Springboks look forward to continuing their dominance in the upcoming season, having secured 12 wins out of 14 Tests in 2025.